Nuns of various faiths discuss harmony and peace in Hindu Holy City

During a time when there is much hatred, violence and opposition in the world, it is comforting to know

there are those of differing faiths coming together. Catching up on some reading this evening, I was inspired by this article. There is so much to learn and appreciate from those of faiths different from ourselves. I sincerely hope that we can see such future events every nation of the world.

Peace and Joy!

~Amadeus

Nuns of various faiths discuss harmony and peace in Hindu Holy City

VARANASI, India (UCAN) -- About 200 women of various faiths have recently met in an ancient Indian city of spirituality to discuss how they can promote religious harmony and world peace.

Maitri Bhavan (friendship house), a Church-run center for interreligious dialogue, and Tera Panth, a Jain group, jointly organized the Aug. 12 program in northern India's holy city of Varanasi, 780 kilometers east of New Delhi.

Nearly half the participants who attended the three-hour program on "Religious Harmony and World Peace" were Catholic nuns. The others represented Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Jain traditions.

Acharya (teacher) Sarad Kumar Sadhak, a Jain leader, told UCA News that his group collaborated with the Catholic center to bring the women together because "increasing terror and violence" has made people pessimistic. "A pessimistic society" does not last long, while women have "become the symbol of peace today" and can help reduce conflict and foster peace, he explained.

Father M. Santiago, director of Maitri Bhavan, added that sharing religious experiences and views would lead to peace because it would improve relations among religions.

Sadhvi Kalyani Devi, a Hindu ascetic woman, began her address to the meeting by extolling all religions. The nun, who is from a Hindu religious school for women, also chanted slogans from the Veda, an ancient Hindu religious text, and prayed, "All be happy, all be healthy, no one may suffer pain."

Another Hindu nun, Sadhvi Acharya Medha Devi, told the participants that the "ultimate aim" of every religion is to promote "human goodness through self renunciation." The nun, who is principal of a local college for women, said: "There is only one God for all religions. Due to ignorance we divide God."

Sadhvi Kundan Rekhaji, a Jain nun, stressed the need for people to "believe in human unity because we are children of One Almighty." Non-violence should be the basic conduct of human life, she said. "Today, violence and crimes are increasing because we are denying the truth of non-violence," she added.

Bhikhuni Karma Sonam Palmo, a Buddhist nun, urged the participants to follow their own religion to advance world peace. "We all need to appreciate other religions with their own philosophy and traditions," she said. Only those who practice their own religion, she pointed out, can appreciate other religions.

For Brahmakumari (virgin of Brahma) Saroj, religion means "peace, love and joy," essential to promote harmony and peace. "Self realization of our origin is the basis of all religions," Saroj noted, and people should realize they are children of one God. Brahmakumari is a Hindu order for ascetic women. Her companion, Brahmakumari Vandanaji, added that religion and peace are "deeply related" since religions are the source "of love, service, purity and mercy."

Sister Imelda Kulapurthazha, a Queen of the Apostle nun, told the gathering she has found similarities in the teachings of all religions. "We need to see the indwelling God in every human being," the Catholic nun said, and this attitude "is essential for promoting peace and harmony."

About 12 nuns from Sister Kulapurthazha's congregation, which she formerly served as provincial, attended the program with her. One of them, Sister Pushpita Joseph, told UCA News she was "happy to see" women Religious of other faiths coming together. She said the meeting had helped her and her companions develop "a positive attitude" toward other religions.

Sister Vardani Kindo, novice director of the Sisters of Providence of Gap, said she found the participants open and respectful to each other. She brought her novices to the meeting, she told UCA News, because learning the traditions of other religions is an "integral part of our formation."

Holy Cross Sister Gracy, who also came with some novices, said she felt "contentment" on seeing "the goodness in other religions." In her view, all religions stress love, peace and service, and their followers should stress such common values and rise above differences to bring about peace in society.

She said the program would help Religious novices "learn and grow in the spirit of openness to other religions." Tenzin Tsephel, a Buddhist woman, told UCA News, "The religious experiences of other faith have enriched me."

http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=2917

Comments

[brahmakumari.info]

For the only ecumenical Brahma Kumari resource, independent from the BKWSU, please see; www.brahmakumari.info.

The BKWSU path is not as it seems and not the one even for Brahma Kumari followers.

Thank you.

[P.S.KAMANAT]

The conference of nuns from all faiths is a positive, urgent step which can promote mutual respect towards all faiths.

It is a pity that we gave away the power of attorneys to various groups and allowed them to monopolise the sublime teachings by the brilliant Prophets came to this world. We thus washed off our hands from the duty of learning the wonderful teachings of all major religions.

For example, non Hindus including their leadership mistook that the glorious teachings of Vedas, Vedantas and teachings of various incarnations like Krishna and Ramakrishna were meant only for Hindus !

Similarly, majority of the Hindus at large did not pay attention to study the teachings of Mahavira, Buddha, Christ, Mohamed or Nanak.

India has a natural duty to the world that acceptance of all religion in practice is our life blood in our veins; it is our natural approach. It is acceptance and not a mere toleration.

Though religious acceptance of all religions is the core of Hindu teachings, the present day India does not project that noble heritage in many ways. Some minority in monasteries and ordinary Hindus in Villages might be accepting all faiths as their Vedas taught them. But the politically charged atmosphere and the media do not project such a good environment in India any more.

Similarly, non Hindus, especially Christians shall sincerely come forward to disown their missionary attempts to convert others to their folds and to increase the number of their followers. Even after conversion, if they can maintain a respectful attitudes towards Hindu way of life, it is OK. No Hindu will go and disturb them. But sad to say, the Catholic nuns and priests encourage their followers especially the new converts to humiliate the worship of Shivalingas and other sacred sumbols of Hinduism.

This joint effort by nuns shall continue all the time. It shall not be restricted only when some catholic nuns are attacked by some anti-social elements. If a catholic nun is attacked, all Indians shall go after the culprits. Also, if a Hindu monk is killed, al Indians shall go after the culprits. Let us not allow politics to enter into religions and religions to enter politics. Religion is a tool for very human being to connect himself to the Highr Divinity, God. Nothing more; nothing less.

If a Christian feels the presence of Divinity when he passes by a Hindu temple and if a Hindu feels divine presence when he sees a cross or when he hears the call for prayers by Muslims, then we can say, we are in the right direction.

Please think over it and all of us can find unfathomable treasures from the all-embracings teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, which are the products of India. Even serious studies are conducted theologically to prove that Sermon on the Mount is validated by Vedantic ideals. So nothing is alien to us.

There is no scripture in any religion which is not sacred. There is no religious prophets in the world who persuades his followers to hate others and encourage them to fight with others.

Even "annihilate the kahpirs" call in the Koran is not the call for killing the non-muslims. It is a call to kill the "doubting Thoma attitude" in our own beings.

Let us live and encourage others for a benign living than merely trying to put on them some sectarian uniforms ready to fight each other in the name of religious sincerity.

In this scenario, the attempt by this group of nuns deserves all praise, support and congratulations from every thinking person living in India or loving India and God.

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If a Christian feels the presence of Divinity when he passes by a Hindu temple and if a Hindu feels divine presence when he sees a cross or when he hears the call for prayers by Muslims, then we can say, we are in the right direction.